Who We Are and Our Philosophy

Greetings
from the farmers, Raluca and Ed.Shundahai is our small family farm of 5 acres, located 1 mile from
University of Connecticut and started in 2009. We grow over 30 different
vegetable crops for our CSA, which is now in its sixth year. Our farm name
means: “Peace
and Harmony with all Creation” in Shoshone, and it captures the spirit in
which we farm and live.

Our goal, in farming, is soil health and fertility, and overall
environmental health.We do not use herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, artificial
fertilizers or anything else of the kind, whether approved by Organic
Certification or not.

What is the purpose of our farm?

A few years ago, our 8-year-old daughter,
Sena, said: “The purpose of our farm is to teach people about the Earth, so
they can help the Earth.” How do we do that?

·By having
CSA members come to our farm on a weekly basis, understanding where their
food comes from, how it changes with the season, and how it is grown.

·By
teaching groups of children and adults about different food growing practices
and how they impact our health and the earth.

Our hope is that through our CSA we can
help people feel more connected to the land, and encourage them to make
positive choices in their daily lives, positive for their health, for the
earth, and for all of us.

Why We Farm

"Some of
the reasons I decided to farm: to provide the healthiest food possible for my
children – protecting them from the heavy pesticide residue found on food in
commercial agriculture, to learn to grow food in a sustainable way
". - Ed

"For me,
farming arose as a natural extension of our lifestyle. I farm because I like
to grow and cook healthy, fresh food for my family and community. I farm
because I love to be outside, close to the land, and need to feel connected
to the rhythms of nature. I farm because I like to live a simple,
self-sufficient life, and need to do work which I find meaningful. Finally, I
farm because I am in awe of the mystery of life and working with the land
gives me a practical and tangible way of practicing my spirituality." – Raluca